Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 16 of 22 categories
Glendale
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 63°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Median income trails The Woodlands by $61,165/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than The Woodlands
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Homes cost $536k less ($456,400 vs $992,000)
Households earn $61,165 more per year on average
18% less violent crime than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$61,165
$142,384 vs $81,219/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
18% lower
235.4 vs 287.2 per 100k
The Woodlands
Median Home Value
$536k less
$456,400 vs $992,000
The Woodlands
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.1% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $456,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,723⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 40.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 16 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 6 and The Woodlands wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Glendale to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $456,400 median home), income ($81,219 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.